The Steel Guitar Forum

Lem Smith · Post by **Lem Smith** » 24 Jan 2005 12:37 pm

When and who used the "F" lever first and about what period of time.?

Ed, as b0b mentioned, it was Lloyd Green who first used that change, and the first recording that it was used on was D.I.V.O.R.C.E. by Tammy Wynette.

Farris, the Maverick's did indeed lower. That was what the knee lever did, it lowered the 2nd and 8th strings.

Folks can say all the bad things they want about a Maverick, but the first Maverick that I played, which was one of the vinyl covered ones, was such a major improvement over the guitar that I started with, that for a while I thought the Maverick WAS a pro level guitar!!!

Lem

Farris Currie · Post by **Farris Currie** » 24 Jan 2005 1:06 pm

Dave i love it,they did stink up the chimney,LEM, your right they did put a spring in there to lower couple strings i think. pullers were all pull tho,junk junk,
and that viynal cover,must have got a real deal on that!!!they were hard to burn though. farris

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 24 Jan 2005 3:34 pm

Dave O., you crack me up. Funny, but your right the last time I took the chimney ashes out.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 24 Jan 2005 3:36 pm

Like you Farris I sold tons of them back in the 70's but now for what they are bringing (on eBad)you can get an MSA or BMI or something much better for very little more money. Let's try to guide the beginners towards those older quality built guitars.

David Doggett · Post by **David Doggett** » 24 Jan 2005 10:17 pm

My Maverick came with 3 and 1. I bought it used from Bobbe Seymour around 1975. Charlie Gore, the guy I learned from took me down to ShoBud and had them add a second knee lever. The stock lever was RKR. It could lower a couple of strings. The way the changer worked was that the string tension held the fingers against the allen screw tunable stop on the right side of the changer hole (like on a push-pull). For a raise (pedal or knee), the coat hanger pull rod pulled the finger against the body on the left side of the changer hole. You tuned the strings at the key head with the pedals down (holding the fingers against the body), and tuned the open string with the allen screw (like a push-pull). For a lower, the RKR used a loop spring at the lever cross-rod to keep tension on the coat-hanger pull-rod to hold the finger against the body at the left of the changer hole (the opposite of the raise strings). Pressing the lever toward the changer slacked the string until it hit the allen head tunable screw on the right of the changer hole. So you tuned the lower string open at the keyhead, then pressed the lever to tune the lower against the allen screw.

So you had to choose whether you wanted a string to raise or lower, it couldn't do both. I never knew that the stock lower was on strings 2 and 8. On the advice of Charlie, Shobud put on a new LKL that raised strings 4 and 8 by the same mechanism as the pedals (the coat-hanger pull-rod pulling the finger against the body at the left of the changer hole. So the stock RKR lower lever could not lower string 8. They set it up to lower 2 and 9. Which was the standard for RKR on the pro models. But you see, I lost the lower on 8. You could conceivably have a LKR to lower something, but you had to pick something that didn't already have a raise or lower. I guess you could have lowered 1 and/or 7. You could get multiple raises by attaching more than one pedal to the yokes that attached the ball-end bell-cranks to the coat-hanger pull-rods. The yokes could swivel to pull strings evenly, as long as the coat hangers were the proper length for each string.

So I guess the Maverick could properly be called a coat-hanger raise-or-lower pedal steel. One of my pull rods was an actual piece of coat-hanger that I used to get one of the pulls even.

I don't know that the Maverick was much worse than the first Bigsby pedal steels, or the original ShoBud permanents. But today, with all the great old used pro models available from the Forum, or dealers like Bobbe Seymour and Scotty, a beginner can do better than a Maverick, for only slightly more money. [This message was edited by David Doggett on 24 January 2005 at 10:26 PM.]

Ed Naylor · Post by **Ed Naylor** » 25 Jan 2005 6:04 am

If the MAVERICK is such a bad guitar I cannot figure out why so many are still around, and they bring big money.FENDER sold a modified version of the Maverick when Sho-Bud built them.They can be modified very easily and will hold their own with about any single neck Steel.For years I have thought about having a "Maverick Conversion" workshop.In by 8 am out by 4pm.ED

Sidney Ralph Penton · Post by **Sidney Ralph Penton** » 25 Jan 2005 6:09 am

john i started on a carter starter and i wished i would have went right to a pro model it would have saved me money in the long run. i went from the carter starter to a carter U12, too many strings to complicated to play. so then i sold it and went to a SD10 zum wow what a psg. starters don't have adjustable legs and they don't sound quite as good as a pro model. you can get a carter starter for about 700 you can get on the forum and find a good used psg for 1500. that is what i paid for my zum used. and was lucky to get it. a zum don't last more than a couple hours on the forum. sho buds there is a reason that they give you extra parts when you buy one. thanks doc

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zum SD10 peavy vegas 400 peavy special 212
if its not a zum steel it isn't real

Ed Naylor · Post by **Ed Naylor** » 25 Jan 2005 7:16 am

I have said this many times-Take a 'Converted" Maverick w/a George L PU-Go behind the curtain on stage and play to a croud, and watch and see how many leave or "BOO" the player.As the ultimate test have various other guitars and switch back and forth. Anybody willing to try this??? ED

Bob Carlucci · Post by **Bob Carlucci** » 25 Jan 2005 7:56 am

Ed I AGREE as long as we are talking about the original maple body/neck Maverick.. If its a contact paper job forget it. The original Maverick with a "real" changer and a few knees and a good pickup,would make a nice pedal steel. The problem is cost. For the same price of a Maverick purchase and conversion, you can get any number of used pro quality pedal steel guitars.

If a guy has a maple body Maverick laying around,by all means, get it upgraded.. I sure would,but to BUY one and then having to upgrade it doesn't seem to make much sense. bob

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 25 Jan 2005 8:13 am

I have said this many times-Take a 'Converted" Maverick w/a George L PU-Go behind the curtain on stage and play to a croud, and watch and see how many leave or "BOO" the player.

That's silly, Ed. I've never seen an audience dis a musician because of his guitar. The guitar doesn't make the music - the musician makes the music. Audiences know that!

I've heard that Bobbe Seymour used a Maverick for a Johnny Paycheck tour. I'm sure it was Bobbe's talent that got him the job, not his choice of guitars.

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<img align=right src="http://b0b.com/Hotb0b.gif" width="96 height="96">Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs, Open Hearts
Sierra SD-12 (Ext E9), Williams D-12 Crossover, Sierra S-12 (F Diatonic)
Sierra Laptop 8 (E6add9), Fender Stringmaster (E13, C6, A6)

Ed Naylor · Post by **Ed Naylor** » 25 Jan 2005 9:40 am

b0b-To claify my point- Have the audience score the "SOUND" of the guitar they are hearing.Example- Guitar #1 -#2-etc. rate them 1-10. Like rating the Animal Talent show on ANIMAL PLANET TV. Keep it basic- 1 AMP,Volume pedal, and no "EFFECTS".I still think it would be interesting.OH- the audience has to be general people and no STEEL players voting. ED

Lem Smith · Post by **Lem Smith** » 25 Jan 2005 1:10 pm

OH- the audience has to be general people and no STEEL players voting.

In that case, I don't believe a difference would be detected. I'm not so sure that John Q. Public would know the difference in sound between a lap steel and a modern day D10.

Lem

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 25 Jan 2005 2:41 pm

There once was a guy named Ed
Whose Maverick sounded unusually dead
He hit it with a hammer
Used slats and a jackhammer
And now Ed's Maverick is a bed
Copyright 2005. (Ed I only do this to people I like).

John Steele (deceased) · Post by **John Steele (deceased)** » 25 Jan 2005 2:46 pm

I started on a Maverick, but I sold it to get something with more changes on it.
I didn't sell it because I disliked the sound. In fact, it sounded pretty good. The guy I sold it to is now working around Ottawa with it, playing in several bands and sounding fine.
When I read the incredible angst directed toward mavericks by some of the forumites, I smile and think about him. I wonder if he knows he not supposed to be out there with a maverick, sounding so good and having such a good time !
-John

Ed Naylor · Post by **Ed Naylor** » 25 Jan 2005 3:08 pm

Lem- Thanks for helping prove my point.Remember the saying" Gone but not forgotten?"" The Steel is in a reverse now-"Forgotten but not gone."I don't know when or how, but Steel Guitar will come back. WE must keep the word out. Practically every time I call a company I ask the receptionest- Do you know what a Steel Guitar is??Occasionally one will know.It comes down to PUBLIC AWARENESS. Put the word out ED

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 25 Jan 2005 4:50 pm

I played a gig last summer on my Maverick, to an audience of punk rock kids. My sister and I were the opening act for a punk band. They all loved the sound of my steel guitar. I forgot my bar, and had to do the gig with a glass pill bottle instead. No problem...

Like I said, Ed, it's the musician who makes the music. The music doesn't come from the guitar. Blind tone tests are silly. Music can contain all kinds of tones. The audience will always choose the music that touches their heart, regardless of tone.

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<img align=right src="http://b0b.com/Hotb0b.gif" width="96 height="96">Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs, Open Hearts
Sierra SD-12 (Ext E9), Williams D-12 Crossover, Sierra S-12 (F Diatonic)
Sierra Laptop 8 (E6add9), Fender Stringmaster (E13, C6, A6)

Herman Visser · Post by **Herman Visser** » 25 Jan 2005 8:48 pm

Here we go again bashing starter guitars.There is a reason they are known as starters,to see if this is what you want to play, with out spending all the rent money.I think $300to$500 is a reasonable amount to find this out.After you buy Amp. Bars,picks,Vol peddle,and instruction another $400 total just short of $1000 for something your not even sure youll ever learn to play.
TONE: well I think most new guys know good tone in a steel, but that is not whatI was after.Just wanted to learn chords and bar placements to start.If the starter lasts only 1yr.I think its done its job. And to think that the little steel that could gets me started to bigger a better things then I applaud it!.
There is not one person on this Forum when selling his Guitar will say HO! you started out on a Maverick I cannt sell you mine,reminber its a starter that got him there.
And to those that want to burn these Mavericks think about this-NO good musicans I think would go out and burn any Guitar let alone a playing steel guitar.Would I buy another 3x1 again (NO)but most new guys dont know any better,I do now.
Reading post like these kind of take the wind out of peoples sails and thats not right.People need to be encouraged to keep playing and not to be told their the proud owners of $400 worth of fire wood (Tony White is selling his pile for $500)
I almost drop the Forum a few mons.ago,because of all the negativity, I hope it stops
PROUD OWNER OF A PILE OF FIREWOOD ( SO WHAT)I am haveing Fun.

Ed Naylor · Post by **Ed Naylor** » 26 Jan 2005 5:56 am

All the negative comments about the Maverick and other guitars, only makes it harder yto get people started. The MODEL A by Henry Ford really got people in the mood to travel around. I also feel this is kind of an insult to SHO-BUD that really was trying to get people into a Steel at a price they could afford. I am surprised someone hasn't sued SHO-BUD because the Maverick kept them from being a star. ED

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 26 Jan 2005 6:01 am

My buddy just got a Maverick, a nice wood one, and is now getting a handle on it.

He is very pleased and says it sounds great.
He is an recording engineer, plays great guitar and has good ears.

If you think of the Maverick as a 10 string lapsteel with a couple of pedals added it is a pretty cool unit.

If you compare it to a full boat Carter, MSA, Fessie, Fulawka, Emmons, Sho-Bud, Sierra, Zum, ad infinitum,
then it comes up short. But more than just playable.

I think if it were an E13 with a few pulls it could be really cool.

John Schjolberg · Post by **John Schjolberg** » 26 Jan 2005 7:57 am

David Doggett · Post by **David Doggett** » 26 Jan 2005 8:38 am

When I sold my custom lacquer Maverick a couple of years ago to get a formica Fessy U12, my few local fans were dissappointed. They loved the look of the natural wood and those red and white card suit symbols. They didn't care that I was getting a better sound and had more than 20 times more changes.

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 27 Jan 2005 8:33 am

My LKL raises the E strings. It's my only lever. I probably used some of the parts from the third pedal. All of the parts from the undercarriage were removed for a few years while I played as a non-pedal guitar, standing up. When I rebuilt it, I just put the bare minimum on it: A, B and F.

Kenny Foy · Post by **Kenny Foy** » 27 Jan 2005 5:04 pm

Just wonderin if the Maverick I have is the standard of the industry. It's birdeye with the teardrop or gumbee tuner head. It has the flat fretboard. NO coat hangers. It has the big rods underneath but where it connects to the changer has the fishhooks about 1 inch long like underneath a push/pull. It also has what I believe is what they call brass barrels w/ springs behind them. Does not have the single tree pull system. DOES have string rollers on the nut. One knee lever. It's actually the only one I've seen built like this.Some of you pros out there mite have some info for me. Thanks for any responses.

Lem Smith · Post by **Lem Smith** » 27 Jan 2005 8:17 pm

Kenny,
Sho~Bud built a pro model S10 before the Pro I came into being. I forget the particular model number stamped on the bottom of them, but I figure that's probably what you have. The Unofficial Sho~Bud page, which is linked from b0b's link pages has more info on the particular model numbers.

Hope this helps,
Lem

Michael Haselman · Post by **Michael Haselman** » 28 Jan 2005 10:30 am

I just remember, 1st guitar was a Maverick, first instruction book, Winnie Winston's. My Maverick had no lower capability, so I couldn't do the songs as Winnie was teaching. It lasted 3 weeks before I got my Pro I that I played for 24 years.